Southport stabbing latest: Three girls killed in attack named as suspect arrested

Sir Keir Starmer visited the scene in Southport this afternoon, where he left a wreath of flowers with the following message: “To the victims, families and people of Southport, our hearts are broken, there are no words for such profound loss. The nation’s thoughts are with you.”

Seven children were taken to Alder Hey hospital following the stabbing in Southport, the NHS trust said.

“We can confirm that seven children were brought to Alder Hey following the heartbreaking incident in Southport yesterday,” Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“Sadly, despite all our efforts one child has since died. The remaining children are continuing to receive treatment with two remaining in critical care but currently in a stable condition.

“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Alder Hey remain with the children, young people and their families involved in and all those affected by yesterday’s incident.

“We will continue to provide them with all the support we can at this devastating time.”

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “get to grips” with high levels of knife crime in the UK as he visits Southport today.

Speaking to SkyNews Sir Keir Starmer said: “I am very worried about high levels of knife crime, and I am absolutely determined that my government will get to grips with it, but today is not the time for politics, today is the time to focus entirely on the families and on the wider community”

The Independent’s Tara Cobham reports from Southport:

Members of the public are embracing each other and crying together as they stand and look on at the floral tributes gathering at the top of Hart Street.

Since very early this morning, families as well as people on their own have been paying their respects at the scene.

They stand in reflective silence or speak in hushed tones, as the community of Southport pulls together while they struggle to come to terms with yesterday’s horror.

The Independent’s Tara Cobham reports from Southport:

 Ambulance staff have been breaking down in tears as they held each other and paid their respects at the scene of the tragic scene in Southport.

Crying could be heard, as visibly upset paramedics walked together to lay floral tributes at the top of Hart Street.

They hugged each other and could be heard commenting on how difficult it was to return to the scene after the horrific incident unfolded yesterday.

The Independent’s Tara Cobham reports from Southport:

Sir Keir Starmer has laid flowers at the scene in tribute to those attacked in Southport and their loved ones, as angry members of the crowd shouted at him.

The prime minister walked with a bouquet to the top of Hart Street, where the horrific incident unfolded yesterday. He placed them among the many floral tributes piling up at the scene.

As he turned to walk back to his convoy, members of the crowd began to heckle Sir Keir, shouting “when are you going to change” and “our children are dying because of you” and “how many more”.

The shouts grew in number and volume as the PM was hurried back into his car before it quickly sped off from the scene.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shook the hands of firefighters and ambulance staff during a visit to Southport police station and told them he wanted to give a personal thank you.

He said: “I know you would go and face any situation that was put in front of you, you do it every day.

“But there’s no pretending that what you dealt with yesterday was ordinary or just a usual response. It was really, really difficult. I just wanted to say a personal thank you to each of you, that’s why I wanted to shake each of your hands, for what you did yesterday.

“I’m incredibly proud of what you did.

“I’m amazed, but not surprised, that you’re in today, carrying on with your duties.

“I really want you to focus on the fact that there are children today alive because of what you did yesterday. That is incredible. It’s what you do every day but it’s the most difficult of circumstances.

“I don’t want you to think for a minute the rest of the country has not seen that.”

Sir Keir Starmer made a brief visit to the crime scene to lay a wreath of flowers, after earlier meeting with emergency workers who had attended yesterday’s stabbing.

Our reporter Tara Cobham at the scene said angry shouts of “our children are dying because of you” were heard from the crowds before he left in his convoy.